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Behind the Scene tour puts students at the forefront

A good option to check out the cars and get oriented at the auto show — before the crowds come in, when the floor show opens to the public — is the $15 Behind the Scenes guided tour, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Josie Duguay, director of student experience at Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada, organizes student-run guided tours at the 2016 Canadian International Auto Show at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto. (Vince Talotta / Toronto Star)

By Monika MoravanSpecial to the Star

Tues., Feb. 16, 2016

There’s an art to working strollers and kids through the maze of the Canadian International Auto Show’s more than 150,000 visitors and 650,000 square feet.

A good option to check out the cars and get oriented — before the crowds come in, when the floor show opens to the public — is the $15 Behind the Scenes guided tour, starting at 9:30 a.m.

“Our 9:30 a.m. tours are mostly families. We’ve had families with older children as well as younger children,” said Josie Duguay. The third-year student in Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada program — the only one of its type in the country — is also Director of Student Experience, co-ordinating the other students who provide tours at the show. She also holds a key role in organizing the Georgian College Auto Show, the largest student-run outdoor auto show in North America.

Even this early, the show is a busy place. Last-minute detailing is being done on cars, staff is holding team meetings, and the final touches are being put on displays.

Saturday morning’s tour found Olga Lenskaia and her teenage son, George Nikitin, out on the show floor. “It’s really nice to see all the cars in one place, to go inside them,” said Nikitin. The Western Tech student studies robotics, and the tour has given him some career options to consider in automotive.

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“It’s also excellent for people like me who have no knowledge of cars and with a growing son. I’m impressed with the guides, and I’m impressed with the show,” said Lenskaia. Mother and son found the information on the college and the degree extremely helpful.

If you can’t wrangle your little ones into their snowsuits or rouse your teens from bed early enough for the early-morning tour, there are more free tours offered at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Space is limited, so its recommended your arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour is scheduled to start.

All tours are first-come, first-serve and meet up inside the main Metro Toronto Convention Centre north building entrance (L200) at 255 Front S.W. You’ll spot students waving guided tour placards.

Your guide might end up being Nicholas Bird. It’s the Automotive Business School of Canada student’s first year working at the show. In his third year of his program, Bird has had a lifelong love of cars and stumbled into his current path thanks to the auto show.

“I came here a few years ago, we had a booth here, and from then on, I was hooked — I had to do it,” said Bird. He packed up from his home in Trenton, Ont., and headed to Barrie, Ont., to attend the program.

Duguay also found out about the program from its presence at CIAS. “I saw the booth, I talked to the students who were at the booth, and they really got me intrigued, she says. “We really use the product knowledge we’ve gained from the program for questions customers have.”

Freelance writer Monika Moravan is a contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, email wheels@thestar.ca and put her name in the subject line.

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